In a rare burst of nervous energy, the IOC stuck a stick into the hornets’ nest today. They informed one of the world’s largest nations that there would be no place for their team at the Games, come next February. Not even a chance to get dressed up and march in the big parade, much less pick up a new set of gold medals. In case the old ones were tarnished, etc.
posted in sports | Comments Off on No Games for you | 280 words
This afternoon’s important football question: When is the game over? Is it when the flag drops, or the scoreboard clock reaches zeros, or the whistle blows, or when the winning fans storm the field? Perhaps all of the above?
posted in sports | Comments Off on When is the game over? | 256 words
Just last year, I spent an afternoon in a battle of fingertips with a particularly recalcitrant bicycle tire. Told myself that I should get into the city and find a second rim, so that this wouldn’t be a recurring theme in my life (cursing at a rubber ring).
posted in sports, travel | Comments Off on A battle of fingertips | 260 words
Some unexpected drama, for the middle of a week. The Loney Bowl was contested, this afternoon, down in Wolfville. In one of those “good to the last drop” finishes, Acadia bested Saint Marys by the score of 45-38 in overtime. But did they? Is it really over?
posted in sports | Comments Off on On the field and off, a contest | 341 words
Too cold. Too windy. The tires will have to wait until a more clement moment.
My attention was elsewhere, anyhow. Today was a “big game day” in university football. The Dunsmore Cup, putting ULaval and UMontreal in the same enclosed space to fight a glorious battle. I would have loved to watch the game, but with all those channels on the satellite TV, nothing. Come on folks; shouldn’t have to wait until the national championship game to see the national champions play.
posted in sports | Comments Off on Chasing the ball back and forth | 264 words
As someone that doesn’t watch baseball, the whole fascination with statistics by fans and commentators leaves me bewildered. After all, to have stats means that you have to collect data. And then you have to massage that data. How do those involved find the time to watch the game? Oh, right; the games can be very long. Last evening, there were pages and pages of Twitter feed as the ongoing playoff match descended into the dark of night. With a final score of 13-12, and more than five hours of game play, this one will need a chapter in somebody’s “the numbers of the game” encyclopedia.
posted in genealogy, sports | Comments Off on A sport of stats | 255 words
Home alone? Great title for a movie. In real life, a bit dull. Ask the dog, who has spent as much of the day outside as I would allow. Yes, I’m at home, alone, and talking to oneself is permitted if there is a companion animal in the room. Right?
posted in food, sports | Comments Off on Read tweets and imagine | 250 words
Please, Ottawa: leave my CBC Radio alone. From where I sit, the variety fills that quiet space in my life. News, culture, so much more. New music! I’m listening to a cellist, Cris Derksen, in the living space of my life, and I’m content. Don’t mess with my content, OK?
posted in food, sports | Comments Off on Send more grapes | 253 words
Good TV weekend for curling fans. The World Championship (Men’s) will be decided within the next few hours, and my hope is that the Canadian team will prevail. After all, the round robin went by with them undefeated (11-0). The playoffs have also gone well, and the gold game starts just before my regular bedtime (time zone madness). If this sound familiar, it’s because we’re repeating the sequence laid down in the World Championship (Women’s) less than a fortnight ago. Although the counters (stones?) get reset next season, a double win for the country would certainly convince others that “we understand curling”.
posted in photography, sports | Comments Off on Champions! | 273 words
Knowing the outcome long before “my broadcast” removed none of the satisfaction. Early this morning, the Homan rink made Canadian history. After a complete round robin tournament without a loss, followed by the necessary playoff games, the team completed the week with the gold medal. World champions. How special was it? Well, Rachel smiled…
posted in sports, technology | Comments Off on Gold in the rocks | 256 words
